Trying to catch just one good egg

Monday, 04 May 2009

I'm so excited that Mel is hosting this book party for Tertia today. Read this and then go mingle with the other guests at Mel's, k? I'm so excited that Tertia's book is available on Amazon. Did you all know that it is? Here's a link. Go buy it if you haven't already. Seriously. I'll wait.

I am assuming that all of you (or most of you) know of the amazing Tertia. If you don't, you really, really should. Her blog (and her book) is called So Close and can be found at www.tertia.org

Mel thoughtfully provided us with some conversational topics and I'm really looking forward to reading everyone's posts today. I decided to go a slightly different route, something a bit more personal and a little less literary.

Over three years ago I flew to South Africa for my first donor egg cycle I had a secret hope of meeting up with her but was way too starstruck to even ask. I don't know how she found out I was there but she did and was miffed I hadn't emailed her, she thought I wasn't interested in meeting her. Can you believe that? Being the bigger person she invited the mister and I to coffee. It was awesome.

We met up on Friday the 13th in the middle of the mall on the V & A waterfront. I still remember seeing her come down that escalator with her incredibly long legs and dressed to the nines.

The three of us had a grand old time. We got right to the heart of the things quickly and heard all about her twins birthday party that happened just when we'd arrived to Cape Town. We talked about all the stuff we infertiles like to talk about. We shared notes on the doctors and sisters at the clinic. We compared notes on our ectopic pregnancies. We talked a lot about how the emotional part of cycling was so much harder than the physical part but no one warned you about it. We even talked about the book she was working on in her "spare" time. But this one part of the conversation stuck with me all this time. I can replay it over and over in my head. If I close my eyes and concentrate I can see the three of us at that table (all a little younger than now) and hear her words in my mind.

The mister asked Tertia how she was able to keep going, after all the things she'd been through and her long journey. And Tertia said "giving up just wasn't an option. I'm just too stubborn and the alternative is just unacceptable."

And the mister, with more than a tear in his eye, just said "Yes. You're absolutely right."

The other thing the mister said to me after Tertia went back up that escalator is that "she really puts the super in supermom, doesn't she?"

After that coffee, Tertia became one of our biggest cheerleaders. She was gutted along with us when we had our negative beta a couple of weeks later and she helped me get back on the horse (and the plane) a couple of months later.

My next trip was a whirlwind but Tertia found the time to fete the Infertile Gourmet and me. I must have passed the sniff test the previous trip because this time I got to meet the husband, kids and Rose and hang at Casa Tertia. I think she's realized the folly of letting internet friends into her house and has since moved but I've heard I could track down her new house with google or something.

Hm, that sounds a bit stalkerish, doesn't it? I wonder if she's changed her cell number as well? Moving on....

She took Alex and me to a lovely wine farm close by her house. We had the most amazing day. I would say that Alex and I drinking wine with Tertia puts us in a very exclusive club. But if you know Tertia that's not exactly true. ;)

We also talked about her book a lot on that trip. If I remember correctly (and I doubt that I do) it was in the editing stage. She promised to send me a copy when it was done. She said I could be her press person stateside or perhaps her chaperone (she SO clearly needs one). I knew her book would be a great success. I'm so thrilled that it's climbing the charts on Amazon. I gave up waiting for my autographed copy and ordered one my self.

You'd better remember all the little people and at least sign my damn book on your triumphant book tour!

Now Tertia has added best selling author to her very long resume. She has done so much good for her sisters that were and are still in the trenches first with her blog then the book and now her Egg Donor Agency (btw I'm beyond thrilled that I can recommend Nurture to my friends). I honestly don't know where she finds the time.

Just like the mister said so many years ago, she really does put the super in supermom. And superwriter. And superfriend. Asshole.

So let's all raise our glass to Tertia, thank her for all she's done for us, wish her every success, and hope that baby Max comes soon. Gesondheid!

Tuesday, 03 October 2006

I just got off the phone with the lovely lass from Scotland who's currently in Cape Town. That's right, Madame Pamplemousse. She's had horrible internet issues so she hasn't been able to update. She's off to the beach then back home this weekend. I'm not going to spill her beans but all is well and now's the time for
holding thumbs, crossing fingers, doing whatever it is that you do to
ensure good luck.

Monday, 27 March 2006

So today was the big day. I woke up, admired the view from my bed for a bit, had a lovely bubble bath and a lingering breakfast. I ran up the street to Christian Barnaard Memorial Hospital to get my ativan prescription prepared, packed my ipod and lucky hat and was ready for the day.

The Infertile Gourmets picked me up and we were off to the races. I had a lovely acupuncture session. Dr Z even fit the Infertile Gourmet in for a treatment session and we were both blissed out with good energy.

We had some time to kill so we stopped by the serene Vineyard Hotel and Spa for a pot of tea and scones for me and other lovely treats for the IGs. Then we were ever so lucky to be joined by Anouf and Mr Anouf. Now I'm a super lucky girl and I had the most lovely dinner with the Anoufs last night. They are just the dearest couple. They've lived in and traveled to so many incredible places and are just so easy to talk to. I'm so very glad I got to meet them.

The Infertile Gourmet got a bit stressed out because she was worried we'd be late to the clinic. I was still being Zen Infertile Patient and just kept saying all would be well. Zen or ativan: you be the judge. Not sure it really matters.

So we headed over to the clinic which was 2 minutes away and the fun started.

I went back into the warm procedure room (the embies like it that way) and Dr Champagne came in with the update.

It seems we have one outstanding very nearly blast. One didn't survive the thaw, the other two didn't grow at all and looked brown and wonky. BUT we have one super star. So that's what we transferred.

The ativan ws incredibly lovely. I didn't cramp at all. It was just so easy. Dr Champagne and Sister K told me lovely stories of success with just such singular stellar embryos. Dr C said we were doing things just like they'd do in Scandanavia (they apparently only like to tranfer one blast). I thought I must have taken a wrong turn somewhere because Stockholm has a whole lot more water than Cape Town. And would be a lot colder now.

So the embie was placed in a really good spot. My lining looked fab (his words---no numbers, just fab). I listed to my Anji meditation. I even threw in a couple of extra songs (Little Miss Magic by Jimmy Buffet and Bubble Toes by Jack Johson just because).

I took a pic of the doc in front of his wall of fame for my friends, tee-tee and aames, paid the bill and said I hope not to see any of them for quite some time. No offense.

So now I'm hanging out in the hotel. Talking it a bit easy. Watching the BBC series Cold Feet and drinking a peartiser. Tonight's dinner will be brought to me by the Savoy Cabbage and will start with the amazing tomato tart, end with the panna cotta and I'm sure they'll be something yummy in the middle.

Sunday, 26 March 2006

First of all, I'm a bit disappointed that no one seemed to catch the reference of my last post's title. I know I've gotten a bit off track from song lyrics but I really thought that was a pretty easy one.

Ok, back to the travelogue. (I know you thought this was an infertility blog, right? Or at least I might visit somewhere OTHER than Cape Town).

Yesterday was a fab, fab day. Alex and I headed over to Casa Tertia and got to meet her whole clan. The babes are as adorable as you might imagine. Such sweet spirits and just divine. Rose is super nice and sweet. Marko is devastatingly handsome, besotted with his wonderful wife and so good with the babes. It was sheer heaven just meeting them all and seeing all that loving goodness.

Tertia took us to this lovely wine farm near her house and we had an amazing long, girly lunch. We defined Ladies Who Lunch. It was just so very civilized. As long as you didn't listen to closely to the conversation which got more than a bit ribald. But I'm not the kind of girl who lunches and tells so I'll just leave it at that.

Alex and her lovely husband were crazy enough to put up with me for the rest of the day/evening. Mr Infertile Gourmet even gave me my pio shot and he's a mighty fine shot giver indeed. Any of you infertiles in need of a well done shot, the line forms behind me. Ok, I suppose I'm behind Alex but whatever.

We headed out to Kalk Bay for dinner and ate overlooking crashing waves. So cool. Actually it was quite blustery as the winds had picked up tremendously. We talked and talked and talked. And ordered 3 desserts. Totally my kind of people. I was exhausted by the time I made it home to my little room.

This morning I went on a township tour. It's the one thing I didn't get to do on my last trip that was high on my list this time around. I chose Sunday morning because there's a gospel tour and you get to see things you don't the other days of the week.

I'm so very glad I took this tour. The tour operator is a woman from a township who started this business so she knows everyone and you don't have an icky, voyeuristic feeling that I was worried about. We went through several townships and made many stops. We met with a couple of familes that share an apartment in an unrenovated buidling. There were three bedrooms in the flat and 18 families lived there. Each family (2 adults and up to 5-6 kids) had one bed in a bedroom. Such tough conditions!

People chose to move from the flats to shanties or sheds because that was the only way they could have any privacy at all. Each shed houses one family. The government is now building new buildings with many flats to replace the sheds. The township folks are very excited to see that happen.

There are also very nice residential streets in the townships where doctors, lawyers, business people, and all sorts of other professional live. It's amazing how close the former hostels, sheds and houses all are to each other. We went first to Langu which is the first township built in Cape Town and was constructed in 1940. That's when the big move began and blacks and coloreds were forced into separate townships (we drove by the Cape Flats which is a large colored township but didn't go in there).

We stopped at a couple of memorial sites including one to Amy Biehl, the Fullbright scholar and Stanford grad who was killed in 1993 by militant members of the Pan African Congress student group as she was drivng coworkers home.

The last stop on our tour was a much more uplifting one. We went to most of a church service where we were warmly received. It was quite a large church (more than 800 people) and they seemed to have a great deal more fun at church than I've ever seen before. There was amazing gospel music combined with African dancing. I'd never seen line dancing at a church, much less break dancing by women in formal church clothes and heels. There was even a bit of a mosh pit. The minister gave many intructions to tell you neighbor this and that and indeed we were told. And hugged. And truly welcomed. They told us not to feel at home but be at home. I figured it was as good a way as any to spend part of my day before transfer. Can't hurt, right?

Now I'm feeling quite contemplative. I'm heading out for a long walk along the waterside. Maybe even some sushi. See how much better I'm feeling?

Friday, 24 March 2006

Ahhh, the fun of jetlag. I started my day yesterday oh-so-early. I got caught up on some of my favorite blogs, in bed with a great view of a gorgeous mountain. Nice, eh?

I was still a bit nauseous from all the drugs but thought a nice breakfast of scrambled eggs would help. And dry toast. It did but my prenatal vitamins had me even more sick to my stomach after.

I arranged to meet The Infertile Gourmets for lunch at Fish on the Rocks--this fab little hole in wall in a small fishing village not to far away.

I did warn you that this trip was going to be all about food, right? I'd been planning what restaurants I wanted to return to and what other ones I was desperate to try out. I'm not saying I picked my hotel solely because my very favorite restaurant here is just across the courtyard with the best panna cotta I've ever had in my whole entire life (that's the amazing Savoy Cabbage, btw) but it helped clinch the deal. Also high on my return to list are Wakame Sushi which has the most delightful balcony overlooking the ocean, the Belgian fave 0932 located in a bright pink building and serving amazing mussels and frites (more kinds of mussels than you can possibly imagine), the Gainsborough Cafe which is just up the street and great for a lingering lunch and people watching. Of course I had more restaurants picked out than there are possible meals for this trip.

I digress.

So I met up with the lovely and amazing Alex and her fab husband. And she's everything you think and more. So awesome!!! I order up my fish (hake) and chips and that's when it all starts to go down hill rapidly.

I eat some of the chips but just know I can't take the fish. All of a sudden fried fish sounds just horrible. In fact, everything sounds horrible. I'm feeling more nauseous than ever. I rudely excuse myself and rush to the loo where it all comes up. Blechh. Alex and Mr Alex were totally lovely about the whole sordid thing. It probably goes without saying but I'm not really a vomiter. Especially in public. I was just mortified.

I went by the clinic to get my progesterone shot from on of the sisters there. I was early enough that Dr Champagne was still there so I stopped by to chat with him and Sister K about my horrible side effects from the progesterone this time around.

He looked at me like I was bonkers. I could tell he thought I'd truly lost it but he's so much nicer than that. He asked if I'd been feverish. I said I'd been having hot flashes again for the past day or so but I really didn't think I was feverish.

He very kindly told me I had a stomach virus that was going around. Those weren't hot flashes, just a regular old fever. What I was feeling had nothing to do with my drugs or my cycle or anything like that. Just a bug.

This possibility hadn't even crossed my mind. I'm so obsessed focused on all things cycle related and used to looking for and experiencing side affects from drugs I just figured it was kicking my ass this time around.

A stomach bug. How lovely.

As I was heading back to the hotel freshly stocked up on ginger ale, cream crackers, yoghurt drinks and Panado (I guess it's like Tylenol--some kind of pain reliever to reduce fevers) the mister called. I poured out my heart to him. I didn't want to make him worried but I was feeling so sick and so far away. And so upset that there was no way in hell I was having mussels anytime soon.

He did what every fabulous husband does at at time like this. He totally made me feel better with those three little words: DOOK lost yesterday. Ahhhh, sweet relief. I hadn't seen the news. I hadn't seen some of your comments (thanks btw). I thought nothing could make me feel better. Boy, was I wrong.

With a spring in my step I bounded into the hotel. I bravely ate some crackers, took my drugs and told myself all was right with the world. It would all be better very soon. And until then my arch rivals were crying their way back home on Tobacco Road.

Yes it was my second night without dinner in Cape Town. I hope to begin making up for that today. I'm feeling much better. The hotflashes, err fever, have subsided. I woke up hungry. The Infertile Gourmet and I are off to spend the day with the Gorgeous and Divine Tertia herself. There will be babes and a wine farm involved. Alex is the designated driver so you can bet Ms T and I will get our wine in.

And tonight there may even be panna cotta for dinner. Even a sick girl can eat panna cotta, right?

Wednesday, 22 March 2006

This is just a quick post to say that I've finally arrived in Cape Town. All went well, it's just a long haul. I've lost a couple of days getting here this time around. Starting from the west coast this trip added a second red-eye and made it just feel that much longer.

I was super lucky this trip and had a whole row of 4 seats to myself from Atlanta to Joberg. That was totally wonderful. I was able to really stretch out and get some sleep. The bummer is the armrests don't fold all the way back, they kind of stick out a little bit so it's not as comfortable as you might think.

I also saw 4 movies: Derailed, The Weatherman, Shopgirl and Elizabethtown. Well I slept through parts of the Weatherman but it was so bad I didn't want to watch once I was awake. Ok, I also technically didn't see the last few minutes of Elizabethtown but as it is incredibly predictable I'll go out on a limb and say boy got girl. Hope that didn't spoil it too much for anyone.

I've also started my Tiser and Dry Lemon consumption (not to mention SA red wine). All as lovely as I remember.

I was able to connect on an much earlier flight from Joberg so got into CPT a couple of hours early. Much better than hanging out at the Wimpy Burgers in the airport. I picked up my cell phone. The guy remembered me from before (ouch!) and made sure I had the right number this time. The car company met me right at the terminal with a nice small white car waiting. How lovely!

It's a bit harder to switch to driving on the left side of the road when you're completely jet lagged but I managed to make it to the hotel without a single accident. A couple of close calls but no official accidents. Luckily there were some very slow trucks on the road and I hung behind them until I got my bearings.

I've just had an incredibly long soaking bath with some lovely bath salts tossed in and a restorative nap. Now I'm off to find some dinner and maybe hook up with some Americans. You know, because I haven't seen any in a few hours.

Tomorrow is my first clinic appointment and I've also got an acupuncture treatment all scheduled. I'm feeling quite the pro this time around.

Monday, 20 March 2006

I should be sleeping right now. I should be in my somewhat uncomfortable bed next to my oh-so-comfortable husband getting lots of zzzzzzs. Instead, I'm trying to finalize a few last minute things for my trip.

I'm exhausted from a weekend away. In the company of women. A herd of about 30 women. Maybe more of a murder, like crows. It was fun and exhausting all at the same time. We accomplished a lot and I've got some important stuff to follow up on but I just need some very quiet time with no one else around.

My short flights this weekend were more annoying and harder to deal with than flying to Cape Town. I only had to fly to the southern part of our state but it took forever and a day. There were delays due to bad weather and air traffic control in LAX. There were delays due to traffic and a long shuttle ride that caused me to miss dinner Friday night. But I was secretly thankful because I got to eat at the hotel bar and watch my team win a basketball game.

It is so surreal that I'll be leaving in under 24 hours and flying so far away. Cape Town just seems so close now. There's no way it's really that many miles away.

Ok, my man is calling to me in his sleep. I'm sure it sounds like snoring to y'all but I might even miss the noisy man and dogs in the week to come.

Wednesday, 15 March 2006

So for obvious reasons I've got Cape Town on my mind. I've been thinking about it a lot lately, even dreaming about it.

My last trip made quite the impression on me and I remember so many things so vividly. I don't know if it's the fact the trip was so recent or that we stayed so long or maybe it's because we did so much driving and normal things.

When I close my eyes I see so many things so clearly and vividly. I remember the roads and routes to get to places, the shops and restaurants and most of all the people.

Here's a list of some of my favorite things, in no particular order:

The Tisers: Apple, Grape and the lovely Pear. I can't wait to start drinking them again. I don't know why we can't get them here. I've looked at beverage stores where they import all kinds of sodas but no Tisers. We can even get Cheerwine and Diet Cheerwine here in the Bay Area but no Tisers. I'm threatening to fill up my suitcase with many cans of these.

Same for the Dry Lemon and Lemon Lite. They are just so perfect.

Chutney flavored Crisps. This is the best flavor for potato chips EVER. We can get lots of other imports, even crisps, but not chutney.

If I'm sticking to food then the Panna Cotta at the Savoy Cabbage. This is seriously to die for. Y'all know I'm a complete dessert snob and I was not really wowed with any until we went to the Savoy Cabbage. ( I suppose it's no wonder that I'm staying in the same block as this restaurant on my next trip?) I wonder how many panna cotta's I can eat in 6 days. Maybe they'll let me work with them for a day in the kitchen. Since I don't have a donor to take a gift to this time, I'm take a chef gift. Seriously.

Sundowners. I love the expression. I love the drinks. So much more descriptive than cocktails. The Sundowners at the Winchester Hotel were some of my favorite. Gorgeous view, strong drinks and yummy dry roasted corn kernels instead of nuts. Divine.

Air fresheners in the bathrooms. Every bathroom I used had a little bottle or can of some air freshener in the bathroom. So nice!

"It's a pleasure" or just "Pleasure". Said in that yummy accent. I love hearing this when ever I said thank you or something in a store, restaurant, hotel. So very civilized.

Saturday, 11 March 2006

The big shot is officially making itself known. The afternoon headaches are here, full force. Hot flashes throughout the day anyone? Too much fun for one person so I'm more than happy to share.

I'm already taking (and increasing) estrogen so the headaches should get better in a few days. The mister is hoping so because he's getting tired of my grouchy self.

Yesterday I was a lady who lunched. It had been planned for a couple of weeks but the timing was perfect. It felt like a royal send off. There were four of us: two are moms from their own trips to South Africa and the other two of us will be moms that way one day.* I had such a lovely time. I know I've said it before but I'm incredibly lucky to have these women in my life.

Amazingly enough I'm pretty ready for my trip. I had to go to the airport yesterday to get my ticket because while a certain airline may 'love to fly and it shows' they don't love to be progressive with their internet site. If you don't fly them much anymore, and are on your fourth laptop since you last booked flights online (with none of the right cookies) and are old and addled and can't remember your pin. They'll be happy to help you out. By snail mailing it to you in five days. Yup. No way to ask for it online. No one can reset it on the phone. You've got to rely on the US Postal Service. Nice, eh?

So I won a free trip to my local airport where I don't think they do much ticketing of international flights on partners using ff miles. Let's just say it took a while. I was able to chat up a couple of youngish road warriors who were trying to get on an earlier plane to my old town in that state known mostly for Mormons. Ah, I remember the old days so well. Friday afternoons trying to get home just a couple of hours earlier than expected. Stuck in some random airport with no 'club' to hang out it and enjoy a bit of piece and quiet while drinking free drinks.

Anyway, I've got my tickets in my grubby paws. My favorite hotel in Cape Town is anxiously awaiting my arrival. I've got an appointment at the clinic the day after I arrive and transfer is tentatively set for the day before I leave. I've got a car nearly booked. Just need to make a cell phone reservation and I'm done with the planning.

*Actual true optimism, right there folks. It will happen for us, sooner or later, but it will.

Wednesday, 08 March 2006

Man, what a day. I'm still so sad and drained from Liana's news. I so wish I lived closer to her.

I'm also trying to whip a trip to South Africa together. I didn't sleep much last night so I was able to email Dr Champagne several times.

Upshot is: I leave for Cape Town in 12 days. Technically 12 days and 7.5 hours at this point.

Yup. You read that right. I'm SA bound on March 20th.

Dr Champagne has already scheduled me for an ultrasound/lining check on March 23. Transfer will be March 27th. I left to return home on March 28th. What a whirlwind trip this will be!

The craziest thing is I don't have a long to-do list. I was miraculously able to get a free ticket using frequent flier miles. I'm trying not to totally be a brat because I really wanted at least part of the trip back to be in business class but did I mention it was FREE? And I got the dates I wanted?

I've already got a lovely room waiting for my at my fave hotel. Now I can just firm up the dates. I think I'll have a driver pick me up but get a car for at least a few days. How am I going to make it to Casa Tertia if I don't have a car? Since my flight is FREE maybe I should get a really fun car?

I want to pack fairly lightly. I won't be there long and I'll have to shlep my own bag back (not too thrilled with that but what are you going to do?) so I don't want it to be too heavy.

Oh and that lupron shot last night? Y'all can keep a secret, right? Don't tell anyone but it actually happened this morning. Turns out the American depot shots FORCE you to do it intramuscularly and I wasn't up for that. Or waking up the mister very late to have him give me a shot. So he gave it to me when I was barely awake this morning. Soooooooo less painful that way. I guess the headaches will be here soon, right?

Oh and did I mention I'll be out of town March 17-19? Just to make things extra fun?

Tuesday, 07 March 2006

Today is cycle day one around here. I'm so relieved. Apparently just the threat of unnecessary and expensive bloodwork was enough to whip this old uterus into shape.

I hadn't posted about it but I was starting to freak out a bit. See, I was late. Really, really late. A dear friend treated me to a fabulous lunch yesterday and talked me down from the ledge. She said that it was common to be about 10 days late after a failed cycle. Dr Champagne wanted to see progesterone and estrogen levels and I was all prepared to spend my day driving into the city and waiting around but that was unnecessary.

The drugs came last week. I used my old, old dealer. From the east coast. There was a tiny screw up with the package (wrong zip code due to poor handwriting) and this time there was no sexy Howie to straighten it all out. How I miss Howie already! I cheated on him this time because I foolishly thought time was of the essence.

So I've got a big shot in my near future. I suppose I technically have until midnight. I'm dreading the lupron. I'm totally procrastinating by trying to stretch this post out wayyyyyyyy more than it needs to be.

Now I just need to firm up the dates. I don't think there's anyway I can go in two weeks so it's likely to be in mid April. I've just asked Dr Champagne and if he wants me there sooner then I'll get my soon-to-be-sore butt on a plane sooner. My 'rents are planning a trip to see the new kitchen (and I suppose me and the mister) the first weekend in April so I can't go until the following week. I'm not planning on telling them I'm headed back to SA so we'll see how all this timing works out.

Tuesday, 28 February 2006

It's looking like another trip to Cape Town is in my very near future. I think I'll be there the last week of March. I'm still awaiting CD1 around here-wouldn't you know I'm finally having a long cycle?* I wanted to go another month without drugs, which with my normal short cycles would still allow me to plan for a March trip.

I also wanted to lose more weight before the trip but it's still 3 weeks away so I'll just do what I can.

THREE WEEKS!!!! ACCCCCCCCCCCCCKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKk.

I told myself if CD1 happened before yesterday I'd just have to push back. I wouldn't be able to get the drugs in time, yada yada yada. Now it's time to stop being passive-aggressive and get this show on the road.

In related good news I heard from Dr Champagne that they've been seeing a lot of success recently with frozen transfers so he feels better about recommending it. I told him it was my personal goal to help his stats.

I also talked to my friend Color Consultant** and she heartily agreed to the fet. I could hear the results of her fet making some very cute sounds in the background.

I think that my drugs should be covered by insurance now. I'm waiting for confirmation from one of the mister's co-workers who's currently cycling but that will help a bit.

So, drugs now, tickets soon, and I think I'm going to go ahead and book my fave hotel. They only have a luxury room left for the time I'm think I'll be there. Isn't that just too bad?

*And don't even think that there's another reason for this long cycle. Just don't.

**Not only is she in my RESOLVE support group but she's also an interior decorator and helped me pick colors for the whole house. She's very good. I just spent the weekend painting our foyer three lovey shades of blue. So very nice! I'm sick of beige and off-white. It's great adding some color into the mix. I'll try to post pics soon.

Friday, 20 January 2006

Well, we're back. And the mister and I are incredibly exhausted. This jet lag thing is seriously kicking our asses.

I'm waking up at 3-4 am each morning and falling asleep super early. Last night, my pathetic goal was to stay awake until 9 pm. Let's just say I failed miserably. We're invited to dinner tomorrow night (still not turning down any of those 'free dinner' invitations) at the incredibly late hour of 7 pm. I'm thinking a nap is required for me to even contemplate making adult conversation. Actually a nap is probably in order for me to contemplate anything at all.

Tuesday was the longest day of my life by far. I once traveled to Sao Paulo on business and coming home was rough. That was only 24 hours of travel time. Um, and it included first class. It was all first class actually. First class totally rocks. This, however, was cattle class. I'm still unwinding myself. My chiropractor was amazed this morning. She beat us home from Eritrea by a week. And is still suffering from jet lag herself.

Oh and for you sweet folks who commented that you had ample cushioning on your behind and worried that I didn't, let me ASSURE you that I have more than ample padding. I only wish it had helped. My behind is all battered and bruised from the evil progesterone.

I'll be back soon with much more info on our trip. I promise! There will be photos, including more photos of food than anyone could possibly be interested in.

My local clinic has decided to completely torture me by not allowing me to have a beta until Tuesday. TUESDAY, people! I'm tempted to go in on Monday but that can only happen if I get the paperwork in the mail before then. I tried the whole 'but my body thinks it's nearly a day ahead anyway' routine but that went nowhere fast. I'm grateful that they're being so cool about following me so I really don't want to piss them off.

Now, many of you have been asking for me to poas. I'm going to have to leave you wondering. Here are the two possible scenarios and you get to pick:

Door Number 1: Millie doesn't have any hpts left at home and was talked into not buying any cheapos in Cape Town by Tertia. She's being strong and, frankly, she's just not even tempted. She's refusing to enter any store that sells them because she knows she actually has absolutely no will-power whatsoever. She remembers that fateful FRED back in December 2003 that came back negative when she was actually pregnant with an ectopic. She just doesn't believe in any stick you could possibly pee on. She knows a beta is the only thing that can give her any reliable information.

Door Number 2: Mille has, in fact, poas for the last two days in a row and has no good news to report. She really doesn't want to hear it's too early or there could be late implanation or be offered any false hope or any shit like that. Unless it's from someone who is no more than 1 day behind her in the 2ww. Ok, no more than 1 day behind her who also lives half-way around the world from her clinic and is also jetlagging. Or from someone who tested negative at something like 105 dp3dt and then went on to have healthy triplets.

Tuesday, 17 January 2006

Well, they say all good things must come to an end. It's time for me to say goodbye to Cape Town. We officially leave in a couple of hours but we're busy packing up and running our last errands. I'll bet most tourists don't have to find a place to drop off medical waste on their way out of town. I could be wrong but I'm guessing that's a little unusual.

The last place we stayed was my favorite by far. It's an amazing hotel with an incredible staff. I only wish we'd had a few more nights. Oh, well. Next time perhaps.

We have 31 hours of traveling to get home so I'll be gone for a bit. If my sore butt survives the long flights I'll be happy.

I know LAST week was international delurking week. I'm a bit behind. I'd love it if anyone wanted to say hi, share something about themselves or ask a question.

Your comments mean so much to me right now (and always, but especially right now). I'd love to home home to some new faces and old ones as well.

Sunday, 15 January 2006

You probably think it takes a while for the news to reach all the way to South Africa, don't you? Well, you'd be wrong.

Here's what I saw on my way about town on Friday. No missing the news here. They plaster it to poles lining the street so you really can't get away from it.

And the Sunday paper had a huge picture of the two of them. On the front page. While they were visiting HAITI.

I may have finally found a place more obsessed with celebrity gossip than me. I wasn't sure that was even possible but there you see it in black and white.

As for this news, I find it distressing. Why is it that homewreckers have little trouble getting pregnant? I know it takes two to tango and all that but if the mister ever got into acting he'd never be allowed to make a movie with Angelina or Helena Bonham Carter. 'Nuff said.

Speaking of the mister, he has now completed all the items on his "Things to do in Cape Town List." His most important one? Watching a ship go over the horizon. A really big ship. Right over the horizon. Why, you might ask? So he could see the curvature of the earth. Seriously.

We have an AMAZING view of the sunset in our current place. We've watched it several nights. His favorite part of our view is watching the ships because if it's a really clear day, and a really big ship, he can see what some other smart guys figured out hundreds of years ago: the earth is round.

Friday, 13 January 2006

So the mister and I were supposed to arrange for a, um, sample to take to the clinic this morning. Then I realized today was Friday the 13th. So I postponed.

Actually I wanted a bit of extra time in bed (with nothing to do, mind you) and had big, important plans for the morning. Plans which required a shower and some decent clothes. Plans that did not not include rushing to and from the clinic. Plans which involved serious caffeine.

Ok, before you all freak out it wasn't actually serious caffeine. Just a caffeinated beverage. Hey, at least it wasn't alcohol yet, right? And for those of you counting implantation, if it happens, isn't even that close. And there's no connection between me and anything else for at least 17 dpo (or 14 dp 3dt).

You know things are different in South Africa when your RE tells you to go get a cup of coffee or something to pass the time right after you're allowed off the transfer table. Seriously, he said that.

Anyway, I digress.

See, I had a coffee date with the gorgeous and divine one herself. Yup, I met up with Tertia for coffee. She was just as fab as you'd expect. She was indeed gorgeous and divine. That woman should be a model. I swear her legs don't end. And she looks like she's getting entirely too much sleep--no bags under her eyes, no grumpiness, nothing. The mister and I had a fab time with her and are truly impressed with all she's doing. He said later, "she really puts the super in supermom, doesn't she?"

Wednesday, 11 January 2006

It's currently 24 C with nice breezy winds of 34 kph here in Cape Town. The weather report is currently coming to you from lovely Camps Bay. The mister and I moved into upgraded digs today. We've got an amazing ocean view, a private plunge pool, a dvd player (where I can watch my lovely Vic Mackey to my hearts content) and the uber-important wireless high speed internet. Does life get better? Sounds like the perfect day to transfer some embies, don't cha think?

Transfer went exceeding well. The lovely doctor was beaming and using words like brilliant. Now, I've been to a lot of docs and a lot of clinics. I've never had one so unflinching happy and positive at transfer. With nothing but good news to boot.

He checked my lining with an ultrasound machine that merely went on top of my belly. So nice. Lining was a whopping 15 and nicely converting from triple band to hh or whatever the hell it's supposed to do. He pronounced it perfect.*

I asked if it was too thick and he said not to worry, it was perfect and the embies would burrow right in.

I was a little worried because I'm not feeling too many side effects from the progesterone (gestone, here) and he again said not to worry. Of course now I'm super tired and fairly irritable both of which I'd like to attribute to drugs.

As for our six embies they were all doing quite well. Five were 8 celled with zero fragmentation. Did you people read that? ZERO FRAGMENTATION and they looked perfect. He wanted to transfer 2 of them today and freeze 3 of the others.

Like a model patient, I agreed with one condition: we freeze all four remaining embryos. I didn't argue for transferring 3 or going to blast. His stats are the same and all was good.

Transfer was transfer. There were stirrups (a bit different than home), a blanket with a teddy bear on it and several folks standing around. I finally met the ivf and donor coordinator and she's just lovely. It was all over in a jiff and I was left to rest for a bit and listen to my ipod. Today's song choices were Anji Meditation #2 for IVF Transfer, Jack Johnson's Bubble Toes, a little Nora Jones, some Ben Folds and Aimee Mann. Seemed like Music to Transfer to in my mind at least. Perhaps I'll even make a commemorative playlist.

We came straight to our new home for the next few days and it's been great watching tv and eating pineapple. Oh and now I've switched to Tisers. I'm having a lovely Peartiser right now with even more pineapple.

I had my last drinks for what I hope to be a long while last night. It turns out there is a sparkling wine here with the same name as my RE. Pretty auspicious, don't you think? He thought it was quite amusing we drank some of it at sundown last night.

If you're all good there might even be pics in the near future, now that I can use my laptop.

*I'm sure that Liana and/or Wessel will be able to quote some stats about too thick lining but I figured I'd just go with it. I seem to remember a certain doughnut-loving friend of mine had similar lining at transfer here and she's got some gorgeous twins to back it up.

Tuesday, 10 January 2006

Well, it's another gorgeous day here in Cape Town. Balmy weather, blue skies, all that jazz.

Transfer is tentatively set for 11 am tomorrow morning. We've got six embies doing well (one was a superstar yesterday). If 4 or more are stellar tomorrow then we push back to Friday. I'm thinking it's going to be a go though.

I had some lovely time on the acupuncture table today. I even started my day with a massage at a super swanky spa. I sent Liana there a month ago and they were all booked up when I called a few days ago. Today is our lucky day because they had two openings for massages. Soooooo nice. Then a fab lunch overlooking the ocean.

Tomorrow we move to Liana's old haunts. They made us an offer we couldn't refuse. We'll have high speed internet access and I'll be flat on my back for a bit. Now I can catch up on all of you!

Sunday, 08 January 2006

Another lovely day in Cape Town. Warm with some winds. That's not what y'all want to hear about, right?

Retrieval went great. 7 eggs and the donor is doing fab. Good start to the week, don't you think?

We got our sample to the clinic right on time. It was a little strange 'producing' in the guest house room but all went well.

We did find out yesterday that we were given the wrong phone number by the phone company. It took a while to get it all straightened out. I'm sure the guy that rented the phone we THOUGHT we had is very tired of getting calls from a fertility clinic. Oh well. I left him a message with our correct number.

We had a lovely lunch with the agency owner. It was great timing because we were thinking about the retrieval and all. The donor called to report in while we were at lunch. Talk about an emotional moment!

She loved the gift and the card we included brought her to tears. I started crying buckets just hearing one end of the conversation. She really is the perfect donor for us. This feels so right.

Ok, enough schmaltz. Off to the gardens we go! Then a concert in the part and maybe fish and chips for dinner. With wine of course.

Friday, 06 January 2006

Ha ha! I'm just kidding. Today was anything but manic. It was just a completely relaxed vacation day.

Well, I guess most vacationers don't start off their day getting bloodwork done but it's really not a cycle until you've had a vein blown, right? We found the closest Pathology Lab (which is where they draw blood here) because I wanted to have some basic immune testing done.

The folks were very friendly but the nice lady with epaulets (I guess you have to be an officer to draw blood) was not the best at drawing blood. Even with a butterfly. She rolled the vein and then jammed the needle all around on the inside. A few minutes and several tears later and we were done.

Then the mister and I headed down to the Waterfront. For the first time this trip we were surrounded by tourists. It was kind of cool though, and nowhere as bad as Fisherman's Wharf back home. We spent the day checking out shops and going to the aquarium.

A little later we drove up Signal Hill and saw some amazing views. Back home for a brief rest then out to dinner. We followed my friend's (Crispy Creme) recommendationfor a lovely dinner overlooking the water at La Perla. CC said we should eat lunch there but we went whole hog and had an amazing and not cheap meal. I think we'll follow the rest of her recs more closely. It will definitely help our budget.

Tomorrow's schedule involves wine tasting and no blood draws or clinics of any sort. Nice, eh?

Thursday, 05 January 2006

It was quite a nice day here in Cape Town. The temp was about 25 C today.* Winds at about 40kph. Blue skies. Balmy.

We did a spot of sightseeing then headed to the clinic late this afternoon.

Met up with the good doctor and all is well. Donor is progessing nicely (though it's very unlikely that she'll have 31 follies so I will be far, far behind Liana). My lining is currently at 7 and he thinks that's just great for now.

He was nonplussed to hear about my ankles and said it was quite common. He also said it would get worse and be a loooooong time until it gets better. He kindly listened to my request for a note to get an upgrade for medical reasons on the way back. Then laughed heartily.

He claimed Liana was the perfect patient: listened to everything he said and followed all of his advise** to a "t" while never playing the doctor card or expounding on Medline research she'd conducted. Both the mister and I found this VERY hard to believe and wonder what demon posessed her during her trip.

He had photos on the wall of folks from home that I'm dying to join. He was surprised at how small the world has become.

Retrieval is set for Sunday. We have a 'collection' cup and are expected to show up with sample in hand (so to speak) that morning.

Transfer will likely be Wednesday but if things go incredibly well it will get pushed to Friday.

Dinner was a couple of Belgian beers along with some other yummy food (mussels, frites and roasted veg but it's fairly obvious what the star attraction of the meal was). Wine and beer is plentiful and cheap here. We plan on taking full advantage of that. It makes typing a bit hard because the keyboards here are so different.

Signing out for now.

*For you arrogant Americans this means about 77 F and Winds at 20-30 mph.

**More British spelling to impress you with my knowledge of local culture.

Wednesday, 04 January 2006

This is going to have to truly be a short post because the mister is breathing down my neck. We're sitting here in an internet cafe in Cape Town and he's being quite the sport. The lovely guesthouse I found doesn't have internet access so we're hanging out with the online local gamers. You'd think he'd be totally in his element but he's just humouring me.*

The flight down was long. There were NO frozen snicker bars but plenty of snickers from flight attendents at my continued request of said confection.

The safari lodge was A.M.A.Z.ING. We saw lots of lions (including a couple of adorable and playful cubs), elephants, hippos,rhinos, baboons, giraffes and zebras. I never thought seeing zebra could get so boring. What a lovely, lovely way to get over jet lag and get to know the country.

I'll apologize right now if I'm rambling and incoherent. The local wine is cheap and plentiful and I've had a snoutful tonight. We're off to bed soon then hope to sleep in past 4:30 (since we don't have an early game drive tomorrow). We'll head to the clinic sometime in the am to get all caught up cycle-wise.

The estrogen is kicking my butt. My ankles are hugely swollen and look more elephant than human.

I'm already in love with Cape Town and I've still barely seen it.

The mister and I are also incredibly touched by all the comments and support you've left for us here. I was brought to tears earlier reading them and saw his face well up as well. It means so very much to us.

To clear up some old business: Sports & Wine is a song by my fave old local band. Ben Folds 5. Love them. And him. And fans of my team are sometimes derisively called the "wine and cheese" crowd by our arch rivals and various sportscasters. So that title seemed apropros for a number of reasons.

*Notice that cool spelling anyone? See, I'm already writing like a local. Though I guess if I want to blog like a local I need to throw in plenty of assholes and gorgeous and divine references. That too will come.

Monday, 02 January 2006

I thought I'd show you a bit of where we are right now. As you read this, the mister and I are probably out on a wild game drive. Or maybe we're lounging by the pool. Here are some shots to set the mood.